Saline Rinse

• There are three popular delivery methods of the saline rinse for your sinuses: the Neti Pot, NeilMed's squeeze bottle and a regular bulb syringe. The Neti Pot looks like a small watering can. You stand at the sink, leaning slightly forward with your mouth open, and place the nozzle of the pot in one nostril. Pour a small amount of saline into your nostril, sniffing lightly, and allow it to drain back out through your nose and mouth. Repeat on both sides until the saline is gone. Do this daily, at least during your worst allergy season. The squeeze bottle and bulb syringe work similarly to each other. You gently squeeze the saline into each nostril and allow it to drain as with the Neti Pot. You can purchase premixed saline packs or simply mix ¼ teaspoon table salt and ¼ teaspoon baking soda in distilled or filtered warm water. You may be surprised at the amount of mucous you will drain out. It can sit unnoticed way back in your head, and if the conditions are right, start a sinus infection. Using a saline rinse can help keep sinus infections at bay. Bacteria often grows best when your mucous membranes are dried out, so the saline rinse conditions and moistens the membrane to protect it.
  
  

More Drastic Measures

• One way to really get the mucous moving in your sinuses and lungs is to breathe steam from an irritant like onions and mustard. Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet. Add one onion, cut up, and sauté until clear. Add one tablespoon of dry mustard powder. Pour hot water into your sink and add the onion mixture. Drape a towel over your head and lean over the sink, breathing deep until the water cools off. Keep your eyes closed so they don't burn. Your nose should begin running, and you will have a productive cough after this. You can follow with your daily saline wash for maximum effectiveness.
  
  If your chronic sinus infections are becoming debilitating, and the saline rinse does not seem to be helping much, you need to see your doctor to see if more drastic measures may be needed.